Convertible seat



April 1s, 1940.

J. R. THOMAS 2,197,735

coNvERTIBLs SEAT Filed July 6, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 16, 1940.

J.'\`R.\ THOMAS CONVERTIBLE SEAT Filed July 6, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2April 1s, 1940.

J. R. THOMAS CONVERTIBLE SEAT Filed-July 6, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Apr.v 1,6,

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 22 Claims.

provision of an improved seat folding mechanism by which the seat isinverted.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a convertibleseat structure of this typein which a spring-stretched metal fabric ismounted in the seat section, and in the other sections, and is connectedat the adjacent extremities to form a continuous fabric when thestructure is inverted to form a bed.

A further object of the invention is in the provision ofv a seat sectionhaving a spring fabric separately supported therein and movable intoalignment withv the spring fabric of the other sections, the springfabric of the seat section forming a support in one position for amattress and in the other position for cushions when. the structure isused as a seat.

A still further object of the invention is iny the provision of 'aconvertible seat structure in which the arms at the sides of the seatare fixed to and bodily invertible with the seat structure.

A still further object of the invention is'in the provision of aconvertible seat structure in which a back rest is supported andfoldable as a part of the invertible seat structure and is movablerelatively to and underneath the`seat when it is inverted to form a bed.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter and theaccompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventionin Which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the convertible seat structure inaccordance with this invention, the

' end being omitted to show the folded structure more clearly;

Fig. 2 is a front view of one end only of the seat structure shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the folding structure in intermediate position;

. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the structure in inverted or bedposition; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of va portion of the inverted structure as shownin Fig. 4.

In convertible furniture of the overturning seat type it has heretoforebeen-a problem to provide a supporting structure in the several sectionswhich make up the bed which are in alignment. A further diiliculty hasbeen in the provision of a spring seat structure which could be usedboth as a support for a mattress and also as a support for seatcushions, either loose or affixed to the other side of the springfabric. These difliculties made it practically impossible to use amattress of uniform thickness.

The present invention overcomes these dim culties by providing a springsupported seat structure and a spring fabric structure in the -other bedsections which have a loose connection between their adjacent ends whenthe article of furniture is folded to form a seat, and this connectingportion so disposed that it tightens in alignment when the bed sectionsare inverted or unfolded to form a bed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a convertible seatstructure is shown which may be either in the form of a single chairseat, a short davenport of the love-seat type, or a longer beddavenportfor a full Width bed. In each of these forms there are threemain bed sections comprising an overturning seat structure, a front orunder the seat section I0, an intermediate or rear section Il, and thevarious connecting and operating parts between the sections. The seatand bed sections and the connecting parts are suitably mounted in aframe or base comprising ends I2, a back i3 connected thereto, and asupporting cross piece I4 between the ends adjam -cent the bottom andfront thereof.

The seat structure comprises horizontal side bars I5 and rigidlyattached vertical rear bars I6 connected at the rear by a metal crossbar I1a. At the front of the seat are also vertical side bars I8 and aconnected cross bar I1 to which a front board I9 is connected at itsrear. At each end of the seat frame is an arm support 20 which isconnected at the rear to the upper end of bar I6, inclined forwardlytherefrom and then downwardly at the front where it is secured to thevertical bar I8 and provides an arm rest which is provided with anupholstered pad 2i or any other suitable arm rest. This arm rest beingattached to the vertical bars is invertible with the seat structure. Toform a resilient supporting surface in the seat structure a number ofthin metal straps 22 are pivotally secured at the front side of the seatto the horizontal web of the angular cross bar I1 and the other end ofeach strap is connected by a short link 23 with an end or border wire 24which forms the extremity of a metal link fabric 25v disposed within theframes forming bed sections |0 and and secured to the margin barsthereof by helical springs 26 which hold the fabric tightly in-pla'ce. V

is overturned to vform a seat, thedisposition of the upper end of therear section above the seat causes the inclination andextension of theend helicals 21, as shown in Fig. 1, which will draw the border wire 24tightly even in folded pcspi-v tion holding the straps tightly in seatsupporting position to resist downward movement of the seat and theborder wire at the back of the seat due to the sidev helicals beingsuperposed more nearly in a vertical line above the border wire in thisfolded position, so that a weight concentrated on the seat as caused bya person sitting down will be resisted by the side helicals locatedoneabove the other.

As a wire fabric or the straps 22 do not form a suitable surface forsupporting loose cushions or even tight seat cushions in place, a coarsebut strong fabric strip 28 such as canvas.L is placed over the straps22l and at theends it is turned downwardly and attached to a nailingstrip 29 secured by rivets or other suitable fastening means to the seatend-frame bars I5. The end straps 22 over wbich'the ends of the fabric28 extend, are separately secured by ahelical spring 5@ to the uprightrearl bar top and bottom thereof.

[To support the seat in overturning relation in the frame, a short anglebar 3| is attached to the rear of the side frame at each end of theseat, and an angle bar 32 is attached to the lower edge 'of the sideframe |2 adjacentthe front thereof. A link 33 is pivoted at one end tothe rear of the bar 3| and at one side of the vertical web thereof andat the other end adjacent the end of the bar 32. Pivotally attached tothe front end of the bar 3| and at the opposite side of the vertical webthereof is a link 34 and pivotally attached near the front of the bar 32is a link 35. Connecting these links is a leverv 36 attached at oneextremity to the free end of the link 34, at the other extremity to apivot 3l intermediate the ends of the link 33, and intermediate its endsby a pivot 38 to the free extremity of the link 35. The sizes andproportions of these links and the lever is such that when in the seatposition as shown in Fig. 1, the bar 3| is supported upon a bracket39secured to the adjacent seat end |2 and when in inverted or bedpositionthe seat bar 3| is rst raised as shown in Fig. 3 and 6intermediate the y then inverted as shown in Fig. 4, at which time thelink 34 being onl the opposite side of the web of the bar 3| rests uponthe horizontal web of the bar 3| and holds the seat rigidly and firmlyin an inverted position as shown in Fig. 4. Thus it is seen that themounting structure for the seat both lnverts and supports the seat inits raised position for use as a bed and forms a support for the rear ofthe seat in its seat position. The front board I9 engaging an outercross bar 40 at the front of the bed section I0 in seat position holdsthe front ofthe .seat against.

downward movement in seat position. This mounting structure also swingsthe rear of-the in this type of furniture.

At the back of the seat and-supported by the seat section is a back resthaving sidearms 4| and one or more crossrails 42. To this backrest ymaybe secured an upholstered back `but preferably it is used as a supportfor a'number of vloose cushions 43 which rest upon and are supported bycorresponding fast or loose cushions- 44 of the seat .structure whichare positioned upon the fabric 28 and supported by the straps 22 in theseat position. In moving the seat to d.bed position it is also desirableto swing the back rest in the direction of the seat so each side arm 4|has a pivot 45 connecting it to the upper end of the bar I6 and with anoperatingextension 46 to which a short link 41 is connected having apivot 48 fory connecting it to/one extremity of a cooperative foldingbar 50 iso that when the bed sections are moved from a seat position assh wn in Fig. 1 to'a bed position as shown in Fi 4, the back support isrocked to a position nearer the seat as shown in Fig. 4. If the backcushions or upholstery are attached to the back rest it will becorrespondingly folded,1and there is no obstruction to such, foldingbecause the loose cushions 44 will be removed at that time.

Even if the cushions 44 are-attached to the seaty v the movement to bedposition will simply compress the lower edge of the back ,upholstery` -vagainst the rear edge of the seatfcushion which is not objectionable. Yl

In order to automatically fold and extend the other bed sections whenthe seat is overturned, the coordinating bar y50 at each side has alever 5| preferably in the form of a bell crank mounted on a pivot 52 inthe angle of thelever and having a pivot 53 connected adjacent the endof the side frame ofv the bed section and connected at its other rend bya pivot 54 mounted on an angle bar 55 secured at the inside of thevvertical angle bar :I6 at the rear of the seat. Also connecting the endof this section with the bar 55 at a point intermediate the ends thereofis a pivoting link 56 so that there is a double 'connection consistingof the bell crank 5| and the link 56between .the ends of the rearrbedsec-- the plane of the vfabric they do serve to draw' tight when thesections are extended as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The coordinating bar 50 is connected at its other end to a pivot 59carried by a pivot -plate 60 which is rigidly secured to the side frameof bed section ||l and has a pivot 6| connecting it with the -adjacentend of the side frame` of bed section 'Ihe bed section |0 has asupporting leg 62 at-each side connected by alink 63 and a pivot 64 at adistance from the adjacent end of the' coordinating bar 50 andi theother. bed

section has a leg 65 at. each side connected collapsed and extended bythev operation of the coordinating bar in a well known manner.

One of the objects of this structure is to provide suitable storagespace for a thick mattress 12 having one portion adapted to be supportedby the bed sections I and and another portion supported by the seatsection, and the two portions connected by a hinge 13 at the upper orsleeping surface of the mattress so that when unfolded the mattress willpresent a smooth and unbroken sleeping surface but the hinge will permitthe sections to fold relatively to each other and to break at the jointso that in folded or seat position the seat section of the mattressdirectly underlies the seat supporting fabric 28 and the straps 22 andoffers additional resilience and support for the cushions of the seat.The sections of the mattress may be secured by ties, clips-or snapfasteners to the fabric of the seat and other sections, or to theframework thereof, and a foot rail 15 is preferably hinged at the outerend of the bed section I0 and is movable outwardly against the anglelbar 40 in open positionas shown in Fig. 4, or against the upper face ofthe mattress as shown in Fig. 3 for folding the mattress.

For convenience in overturning the seat a finger grip 16 may be providedat the lower edge of the front rail 40 which may be grasped in fevraising the front of theseat and tilting 'it up- Wardly upon themounting structures at its ends as shown in Fig. 3; This invertingvmovement of the seat produces a highly effective leverage for startingthe sections I0 and outwardly and the outer'section is then drawnoutwardly, pulling the sections into alignment as shown in Fig. 3, andby a continuance of this same movement inverting the seat within theframe at the rear of the other two main sections as shown. in Fig. 4.Folding of the seat and rear sections together as shown, in Fig.v 1causes a looseness in the fabric 4Q between the ends of these sectionswhich draws the mattress folded in place as shown in outline in thisfigure. Extension ofthe sections into alignment as shown in Fig. 4tightens the fabric at the joint between the seat and rear sections andmakes a continuous uniform surface for supporting the mattress ofuniform thickness throughout the length of the bed. At the same time theseat section is supported by straps which are drawn tightly in place toprovide a suitable support for the cushions when it is used as a seat.

Although the straps 22. areshown in connection with the fabric 28, anyother supporting fabric, as a continuation of the fabric 25, may besubstituted, the important feature being that the seat fabric is drawntightly by the end helicals 21 when the structure is inverted to form aseat, and the fabric 28 is supplied to form a cover and more suitablesupport for loose cushions. As a matter of fact the fabric 28 may beseparate and attached at the ends as shown and described, or this fabricmay form the bottom surface of the seat cushion M.

When the mattress or bedding is folded in the structure, the fabricconnecting the seat and bed sections is kept taut by the helicals at thesides y for the links 56 which span the distance at the ends between theseat andthe bed section I has perforations for attaching helicals 26thereto.

Thus the fabric is held in place in either folded,l

or extended position and the vmattress is confined and held in place bythe fabric also in either position. This makes it possible to sell theconvertible seat structure either with or without the mattress as nospecially formed mattress is necessary.

Cross pieces 61 and 68 form a truss between the legs on opposite sidesof the bed sections Ill and for opposing cross pull of the fabric andthe uppermost cross piece is located at a distance below the fabric 25so that even though depressed to a considerable extent the cross pieceswill not be engaged. Springs 63 to assist in pulling the legs to openposition may be attached between the upper cross pieces 61 and theadjacent portion of the frame sections I0 and It will be noted that theseat over-turning mechanism comprising the mounting bars 3| and 32 andtheir cross connecting linkage are located so that when inverted theyare disposed at the side of the seat structure as shown more clearly inFig. 4, entirely free of the cushion M which is shown in this figure asremaining upon the seat when inverted and entirely clear of anyengagement or connection with the seat cushion. This permitsv the use ofa so-called tight seat as contrasted with a seat having loose cushions.

lIn attaching this folding structure toa frame or the ends I2 thereof,the seat and bed sections I0 and may be separately made and assembledandthe supporting mechanism consisting of the invertible mounting bars3| and 32 and their interconnecting parts are the only attachmentsbetween the frame and the folding bed sections. The upper angle bar 3|may be secured to the seat frame bar I by means of bolts 10, at each endof the seat, so that after the inverting structure is applied to theframe the entire bed structure is attached to the bars 3| bythefastening bolts 10. I With this construction the buil-ding andassembly of the parts and the mounting vof the connected bed andover-turning units in a supporting frame is simplified and practical.

This structure is particularly designed and intended as an intermediatestructure between the studio couch type which has no back for supportingfixed or loose cushions, and the bed davenport type which has a fixedand upholstered back, either type having xed or loose seat cushions.Preferably the back cushions overlap the arms 2| as shown more clearlyin Fig. 2, at the same time covering the back rest and partiallyconcealing the section folding structure at the ends of the seat.Instead of the backrest being movable and mounted upon the seat framethe side arms 4| may be rigidly secured to the back |3 with the loosecushions 43 supported at ticulated sections connected to the seatstruc-v ture and frame at the rear of and below the seat and meansconnected to the sections for moving them forwardly when the seatstructure is inverted to form a bed, a back hinged to the seatstructure, and means swinging the back toward.

the seat structure when the structure is being inverted to bedposition.-

2. A convertible seat bed comprising a seat section and Vmeans forsupporting and inverting it rearwardly to form a bed surface, va sectionbelow the seat and an intermediate section at the rear of the seat, andmeans connecting the seat and the under-the-seat section for moving themto aligned bed position, and a flexible mattress supporting fabricconnected at its margins in the sections and drawn tightly when thesections are moved to bed position, and means at the rear of the seatsection comprising springs, one above the other at the sides of thefabric for holding the seat portion of the fabric tightly againstdownward movement when it is in seat position.

3. In a convertible seat bed, a seat section invertible rearwardly toform a bed, a rear section andan under-the-seat section, and means forconnecting and Asupporting the sections for movement-together intoalignment to form a bed, a flexible mattress supporting fabric stretchedwithin the sections from end to end and drawn tightly into alignmentwhen the sections are moved to form a bed, and springs located one abovethe other at each side of the fabric, each connected to the fabric atone end and to the seat section at the other end at the rear of the seatdrawing the seat potion of the fabric tightly at the rear thereofinclined by the folding of the sections to additionally hold it fromabove and supporting the seat portion of the fabric to resist downwardmovement when the seat section is in the seat forming position.

4. In a convertible seat bed, a seat section and means for supportingand inverting it rearwardly to form a bed, a rear section and an underythe-seat section connected together, a continuous mattress supportingfabric connected in the seat, rear and under-the-seat sections and drawntightly together into alignment when the sections are extended to form abed, additional spring means superposed above the seat portion of themattress supporting fabric and connect-A ed to the fabric and to theseat section at the sides and at the rear oi" the seat section to resistthe downward movement of the seat fabric below normal seat position,andthe connection between adjacent ends of the rear and seat sec- Vtionsbeing operative to decrease the longitudinal tension of the fabricbetween these sections when they are .folded to form a seat.

5. In a convertible seat bed, a seat section and means for supportingand inverting it rearwardly to form a bed, a rear section and anunderthe-seat section Yconnected together, a continuous mattresssupporting fabric connected in the seat, rear and under-the-seatsections and drawn tightly into alignment when the sections are extendedto form a bed, the connection between the adjacent end of the rear andseat sections operating to decrease the longitudinal tension of thefabric between these sections which is at the rear of the seat when theyare folded to form a seat, and additional side spring tensioning meansat the rearl of the seat to hold the rear seat portion of the fabrictaut when the sections are folded to form a seat.

6. In a convertible seat bed, a seat section y invertible rearwardly toform a bed, an underthe-seat section and a rear section hinged together,a link connection between the rear section and lthe rear of the seatsection which increases the distance between the ends of these sectionswhen they-are extended to form a bed, and a mattress supporting fabricconnected within the margins of the sections and extending lcontinuouslyfrom end to vend to form a bed. the

fabric including springs connected to the inner marginal edges'at theends of the sections and also additional springs connected at themarginal side edges of the fabric and to the links between the rear andseatsections so that the fabric will substantially follow the links infolding.

7. In a convertible seat bed, a seat section and means for inverting itrearwardly, rear and under-the-seat sections connected together and tothe rear of the seat section extensible into alignment in front of theseat section when it inverted to form a bed, a spring supported fabricconnected in the sections vand extending continuously from the front oitheseat toN the opposite end of the under-the-seat section, and the seatsection having a rear support extending at the sides above and below thefabric therein,-

and a connecting cross piece at the top of the rear support which islocated well below the stretched fabric in the seat'section .when thelatter is inverted to bed position, the spring fab-v ric includinghelical supporting springs attached thereto and to said rear supportabove and below the normal level ofthe fabric -in the seat section todistend the springs and add tension in supporting the fabric in seatposition.M

8. In a convertible seat bed comprising anl the rear. section beingconnected by a support-v ing linkage spacing them apart and adapted toVmake a longitudinally loose connection in the fabric between the end ofthe rear section and the adjacent end of the seat section when they arefolded to form a seat, vand the seat. section having additional springsconnected to the sides of the fabric at the rear when in seat positionand distended by the folding of said linkage for increasing the tensionof the fabric at the rear of the seat when the sections are folded intoseat position.

9. In a convertible seat bed, an invertible seat section, connected rearand under-the-seat sections movable into alignment in front of the seatsection when it is inverted to form a bed, a continuous mattresssupporting spring fabric extending from end to end within the sections,and that portion of the fabric within lthe seat section having aflexible coverextending over the fabric and beyond the sides thereof invseat position and secured at the ends to the ends of the section, andspring means at the ends of the seat for drawing the cover tightly overthe fabric in the seat section said means lcomprising a sectioncomprising a plurality of strips extending from front to back in thesection, means for Yattaching the strips at the front of the seatstructure, andmeans for attaching them tothe member pivoted at each'end.of the seat section and a spring connected to the other end of eachremainder of the fabric at the rear of the seat structure, a fabriccover extending over the strips and downwardly therefrom at thevends ofthe seat structure, and a nailing strip attached to the seat structureto which the ends of the cover are fixedly attached. Y

v11. In a convertible seat bed comprising a seat section, a rear sectionextending in folded condition above the seat section, and anunder-theseat section, means for rearwardly inverting the seat sectionand extending the other bed sections in front of it and in alignment toform a bed, a continuous mattress supporting fabric extending from endto end within the sections, re-' silient means for supporting the fabricof the seat section in seat position, a connection between the seatsection and the rear section for relieving the end to end tension of thefabric between these sections when they are folded to form a seat, afoldable mattress carried by the sections and folding upon itselfbetween the back of the seat section and the upper end of the rearsection to distend the loose portion of said fabric and the portion ofthe mattress below the seat section resting upon the portion of themattress carried by the under-the-seat section providing two thicknessesbelow and in contact with the spring supported seat fabric for addingsupport and resilience thereto when the seat fabric is depressed belowits normal position by the weight of a person sitting thereon.

12. In a convertible seat bed, comprising a rearwardly invertible seatforming one of the bed sections, a rear section folded at the rear ofthe seat section and extending above it, and an under-the-seat section;the rear and under-theseatv sections being pivotally connected togetherand the rear section and the seat section having a connecting linkagewhich shortens the distance between the sections in folding, a flexiblemattress support extending from end to end within the sections and.folding loosely between the rear and seat sections in their foldedcondition, whereby a mattress carried by the sections and foldable belowthe seat section and folded upon itself between the upper end of therear section and the rear of the seat section will distend the looseportion of the mattress holding fabric between said rear and seatsections when in the seat forming position.

13. In a convertible seat bed, a frame having end supporting portions, aseat structure disposed within the end portions of a frame, folding bedsections connected together and to the rear of the seat structure, and asingle invertible mounting for each end of the seat structure comprisinga plate connected at the rear of the seat structure for supporting it inseat position, a plate connected to the front side of the frame end, andan extensible and overturning linkage between the plates occupying aspace below the seat structure when in lseat position and located-entirely clear of the seat structure at the front of the frame when theseat is in inverted or-bed forming position.

14. In a convertible seatbed, a frame having end supports, a seatstructure disposed in the frame between the end supports, bed sectionsconnected to the rear of the seat structure and extensible in front ofthe seat structure when inverted to form a bed, and an invertiblemounting for the seat structure comprising a support attached to theunder side of the seat structure, another support attached to the end ofthe frame, a link directly connecting the two supports, and

a linkage connecting the supports and the said link for overturning theseat and for engaging the upper side of the support attached to the seatstructure in its inverted position entirely clear of the end of the seatstructure.

15. In a convertible seat bed, a rearwardly overturning seat structureand a plurality of bed sections connected thereto and extensible intoalignment in front of the seat to form a bed when inverted, and aninvertible mounting for,

each end of the seat structure comprising a frame of the first link, andpivoted at its other end to.I

the link connected to the seat support and pivotally connectedintermediate its ends to the free end of the second link pivoted to theframe support to hold the seat structure and the connecting sections inalignmentin bed position.

16. In a convertible seat bed, a plurality of` bed sections connected tofold together and to unfold into alignment and including a seat sectioninvertible rearwardly to form a bed, an inverting mounting for the seatsection comprising a support fixed to the under rear side of the seatsection, another support adapted to be fixed to the front of the seatsupporting frame at each end thereof and a double linkage comprising onelink directly connecting the rear of the seat support to the rear of theframe Asupport and another linkage connecting the front of the seatsupport and the front of the frame support and including a connectionwith the said link whereby in overturning the seat one of the linksconnected to the front of the seat .support engages the upper side ofthe seat support in its inverted position and limits the overturningmovement of the seat in that direction.

1'?. In a convertible seat bed, a frame, a seat structure to overturnrearwardly within the frame and including a cushion attached to the seatstructure; and overturning seat structure at each end of the seatcomprising a support attached tothe frame, a support attached to theunder side of the seat and located at the rear of the seat structure,and connected linkage comprising links attached at opposite sides of thesupport attached to the seat and interconnected so that the linkconnected at one side of the support will engage flatly against thesupport when the seat is inverted to limit the overturning movement andto hold the sections in alignment, ythe entire overturning linkage beinglocated in front of and clear of the cushion carried by the seat to itsinverted position. l

18. In a convertible seat bed comprising a rearwardly overturning seatstructure, an inverting mounting for the seat structure at each endthereof comprising an angle bar attached to the rear of the seat, asupporting bar for attachment parallel thereto at the side of asupporting frame, a link directly connecting the rear portions of thesupports, and pivotally connected at the outside of the vertical web ofthe seatsupport, a link pivotally connected to the forward end andinside of the vertical web of the angular seat support, a link pivotallyconnected at one end to the front of the frame support, and apositioning lever connected at one end toy the first said link,connected intermediate its ends to the other end of the said secondmentioned link which is connected to the frame support, and connected atthe other extremity of the link piv- 5 oted within the angular seatsupport so that in overturning the seat the link connected within theangle of the seat support will be moved from a position substantiallyparallel with the first said link to a position substantially at right mangles thereto and seated in the angle of the seat support for limitingthe overturning movement of the seat and for supporting it in invertedposition.

19. In a convertible seat bed, a rearwardly overturning seat and amounting for overturning the seat rearwardly comprising a support iixedto the under side and rear of the seat, and a support xed to the side ofa frame at the end of the seat, and a connecting linkage for swingingthe rear of the seat forwardly, raising the seat in intermediateposition, andfor engaging the under side of the seat support as the seatswings downwardly and holding the seat xed against further rotation andin its inverted i position.

20. In a convertible seat bed. a frame having end supporting portions.la seat structure disposed within the end portions of the frame, foldingbed sections connected together and to the seat structure, a mounting ateach end of the seat structure comprising an extensible and overturninglinkage `connec acent the rear of the seat and adjacent the front of theframe for swinging the seat structure rearwardly from the front of theframe and positioning the linkage in advance of the seat when the seatis in inverted or bed-forming position. 5 21. In a convertible seat bed,an lnvertibie seat structure comprising also a section for the bed,other connected bed sections at the rear of and below the seat sectionin folded condition, a exible bed fabric extending from end to end lowithin the sections, and means for supporting .the seat portion of thefabric above the seat structure at the ends thereof invseat position sothe seat fabric is free from supporting hard spots near the endsrearwardly. of the front when used 15 as a seat. y

22. In a convertible seat bed, an invertible seat structure comprisingalso a section for the bed, other connected bed sections at the rear ofand below the seat section in folded condition, a ex- 20 ible bed fabricextending from end to end within the sections, means for supporting theseat portion of the fabric above the sides of the seat structure at theseat end of the fabric in seat position,v and the seat portion of thefabric serv- 25 ing directly as the seat support in closed position andthe opposite side of -the seat portion of the fabric serving directly tosupport a mattress thereon normally folded between the sections andextended'with themwhen the sections 30 are unfolded to form-a bed.

JQSEPH R. THOMAS.

